Gary Tuerack, founder and Chief Visionary Officer of the National Society of Leadership and Success

(NSLS), transformed his early struggles with reading into a mission to empower others to make a positive difference in the world. After overcoming his challenges and excelling at Cornell University, Gary became a sought-after speaker on the college circuit. His experiences led him to establish the NSLS in 2001 to empower students and foster leadership skills across the nation; to create a bridge for some of the brightest youth to become successful leaders who make the world a better place.

Starting with just 131 members at 16 campuses, NSLS has since grown to over two million members at over 800 campuses, offering invaluable resources and support to aspiring leaders. Gary's vision was driven by a desire to create a scalable impact and leave a lasting legacy. His guiding principle, "How do I help the greatest number of people in the greatest way?" continues to shape NSLS's mission of building leaders who contribute positively to the world, ensuring that future generations have the tools and encouragement to realize their dreams and achieve greatness, regardless of their starting point.

Rebecca knows fear. As a stress physiologist, Dr. Rebecca Heiss is dedicated to helping us overcome our instinctual limitations - the ancient, often subconscious fears that hold us back from our optimal performance and our happiest lives. Her research has been designated 'transformative" by the National Science Foundation and it is waking up audiences around the world.

As the author of two books, Springboard and instinct, founder and CEO of the leadership 380-review mobile application, icueity, and highly sought-after professional speaker, Rebecca has found her calling in helping others recognize the power of biological applications in their lives. A former educator, Dr. Heiss spent much of her earlier career in the classroom at both the high school and college levels and was recruited to be a founding member of an innovative charter school with a focus on entrepreneurial thinking and impact-based leaming. Today she shares her Fear|less) Stress formula to transform fear to fuel from stages around the world as a full-time speaker and facilitator of her Fearless Masterclass. She continues her research on how we can turn trauma into Post Traumatic Growth (PTG) rather than PTSD.

Rebecca's "fear(less)* message inspires hope and actionable insights to train our brains to work for us, rather than against us in times of change and uncertainty. With surprising humor and palpable energy, no matter if Dr. Heiss is delivering virtually or on stage, she wins over her audiences with interactive, inspiring, and timely takeaways.

Rebecca lives in South Carolina with her spoiled rotten dogs named

Guinness & Murphy and every day tries to live her life motto:

"Spread Happy."

Dr. Kozhi Sidney Makai was born in Lusaka, Zambia, and has been writing since he was 18. Winner of writing and research awards, his writing approach is personal and, in the words of his readers, "it's as if you're having coffee with the guy."

A former professional and All-Nation basketball player, he continues his interest in athletics...something very evident in his writing. Dr. Makai is an Officer in the United States Navy Reserve, reflecting his passion for leadership. Dr. Makai has a Ph.D in Applied Management & Decision Sciences with a specialization in Leadership & Organizational Change and a Psy.D in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in Positive Industrial & Organizational Psychology. A sophist at heart, he believes that humor and perspective are the antidotes to much of our intrapersonal and interpersonal strife. When not writing, serving in the Navy, and serving his clients as a Performance Psychologist and Coach, he can be found hiking, mountain biking, road biking, playing basketball, and hanging out with his wife and son.

Kevin Prentiss is the Chief Product & Technology Officer at the National Society of Leadership and Success, where he leads efforts to make technology meaningfully serve students. For over 15 years, he has worked alongside educators and student affairs professionals to design digital experiences that expand opportunities, agency, and access to real-world success.

At NSLS, Kevin is guiding the development of AI-powered learning and coaching tools that help NSLS members navigate their success path, including education, career, connections, and leadership development, with clarity and confidence. He believes the most enduring innovations are the ones that quietly fade into the background while enabling human connection and potential.

Jennifer Braddock is a learning professional at the NSLS with 12 years of experience in the higher education classroom. She teaches soft skills, communication, technology and many other topics but most enjoys bringing positive energy to events dedicated to the growth of participants. She earned a PhD from the University of Florida and now resides in California with her family.

Tom wasn’t the best student. He graduated high school with a “C” grade point average and got rejected from almost every four-year college he applied to. 

He did, however, turn his academics around through a series of specific strategies and ended up graduating college with straight As, was named valedictorian, and was honored as an All-USA Academic First Team member which is given to only 20 students in the U.S. each year.

While still in college, he launched his first business and grew it to over $1.5 million in annual revenue. 

Since then, he’s spoken to nearly one million people across the globe, trained teams at places like Coca-Cola, Apple, and Nike, and won seven national speaking titles. 

And he wrote not one, but two best-selling books on college success.

Now, that’s impressive, but let’s get to the odd stuff.

He was named after a cat. 

Tom lives just down the street from the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. 

He’s been on a reality show on NBC. 

Gave a TEDx talk at UCLA. 

Has a Youtube video with 18 million views. 

Got featured on the Tofurky (TOE-FUR-KEY) box. 

Has a record of doing 100 pushups in a row, 

and was on the Oprah Winfrey show… but then got edited off the show. 

Marissa Levin knows what it’s like to feel uncertain about herself and her future. Though she now stands as a highly successful five-time entrepreneur, bestselling author, and globally recognized leadership expert, her journey was anything but easy. At age 12, her world shifted dramatically when her parents divorced, replacing the stability she knew with self-doubt, shame, and loneliness that followed her through middle and high school. Those same feelings accompanied her to the University of Maryland, where she struggled to find her place on a large and unfamiliar campus.

Years later, after graduating, Marissa began the process of rediscovering who she truly was—a powerful, intelligent, and capable individual with limitless potential. Her transformation led her to build several multimillion-dollar businesses, including scaling her first company from $35,000 to $13 million. Named among the Top 200 Biggest Voices of Leadership for 2023, Marissa now works with leaders at every level, from C-suite executives to emerging professionals, sharing lessons from her 35-year journey of resilience, reinvention, and growth.

Returning as a guest professor and lecturer at her alma mater, Marissa uses her real-world experience and hard-won wisdom to help students understand that their struggles do not define their destiny. She teaches that joy, purpose, and leadership can be cultivated even in times of challenge. Having turned her own early struggles into a foundation for success, Marissa reminds students that the feelings of loneliness, self-doubt, and uncertainty they face today are not weaknesses but the very experiences that will shape their strength, empathy, and future leadership.

Karina is a results-driven professional passionate about leadership and growth. Her journey with the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) began in 2021 when she successfully launched a chapter at Metropolitan State University, impacting over 1,000 students in just six months. She now serves as the Senior Student Program Director, helping students bring NSLS to their campuses and empowering them to reach their full potential.

Originally from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Karina moved to the U.S. to pursue her education. She graduated with the highest honors from North Hennepin Community College, where she also had the honor of serving as the commencement speaker. Her leadership journey continued with impactful mentorships and internships, furthering her dedication to helping others grow.

Beyond her professional achievements, Karina currently lives in Minnesota and enjoys spending time with her husband and their three orange cats.

Stephanie Shell (BS, MBA) is the Director of Admissions & New Student Orientation at The University of Virginia’s College at Wise. In what was going to be a short-term temporary job the week after graduation, Stephanie has served at UVA Wise for over 30 years, including as a founding NSLS chapter advisor since 2011. She is recognized on campus and beyond for her collaboration, organization and leadership skills.  Compelled by a servant’s heart, you can also find her (and her tool belt or a shoebox!) off campus supporting those in need through organizations including Samaritan’s Purse, Operation Christmas Child, and Habitat for Humanity.

Dr. Hunter A. Hammock is a passionate mentor, educator, and leader dedicated to cultivating the next generation of leaders. Since co-founding the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s chapter of the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) in 2012, Dr. Hammock has transformed it from a group of six students into a thriving community of over 6,600 active and alumni members. His commitment to leadership development and service has created a ripple effect, empowering countless students to discover their potential and make meaningful contributions to their communities.

With a career rooted in mentorship and collaboration, Dr. Hammock has guided over 250 students in academic, research, and co-curricular settings. His leadership extends beyond the classroom, as he has championed initiatives addressing critical issues like food insecurity and financial challenges during his tenure as President of the UTK Graduate Student Senate. Through his work with NSLS and other service-learning programs, he has inspired students to lead with purpose, fostering environments where they can thrive and grow.

Dr. Hammock’s unique blend of leadership, STEM expertise, and a data-driven approach to problem-solving reflects his unwavering belief in the power of mentorship to create lasting impact. His mission is clear: empower others to lead boldly and build a better future.

Sydney Petree is a digital process strategist and senior project management leader who helps organizations navigate transformation at the intersection of people, process, and technology. With a background in business and marketing, she leads cross-functional teams through complex change initiatives while blending agile, predictive, and lean practices to drive adoption, clarity, and measurable impact.

Her leadership philosophy centers on keeping innovation scalable and practical, ensuring that processes and automation enhance connection and relationships rather than replace them. As Senior Chair of her company’s Women in Leadership business resource group, she focuses on mentorship, accessibility of opportunity, and the advancement of future leaders.

Outside of corporate leadership, Sydney co-owns a landscape business with her husband, consults small businesses on strategy and operations, advises the NSLS chapter at Park University, and coaches both high school and college soccer. She is also a proud mom of twins.

Alyssa Placeres has been working for NSLS for 1 year but prior to that, was a NSLS Advisor for over 3 years. Alyssa has dedicated over 10 years to supporting and guiding college students and staff in a number of departments like Admissions, Orientation, Housing and Residence Life, and Student Life and Leadership. With a passion for student success and leadership development, she has worked across a variety of roles aimed at helping students thrive academically, socially, and personally. Alyssa holds a Bachelor’s degree in Interpersonal and Organizational Communication from SUNY Brockport and a Master’s degree in Higher Education from The University of West Georgia.

Outside of work, Alyssa is training her Golden Retriever, Nana (named after the dog in Peter Pan), to become a therapy dog, with the goal of bringing joy and comfort to others. Alyssa also enjoys playing volleyball and kickball with her partner, and has a love for travel, having visited 12 countries so far.

Devin Lasker is a dynamic executive and leading expert in the art of networking - teaching students how to build meaningful, lasting relationships that open doors and create opportunities. With a proven track record of driving revenue growth through innovative marketing, branding, sales and partnership strategies, Devin understands firsthand how the right connections can transform careers and businesses. His award-winning work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Post, The New York Times, Forbes, New York Magazine, Fox Business, Food & Wine and included as a case study in the world's leading marketing textbook, Contemporary Marketing. In the music industry, Devin was honored by Alternative Press Magazine as one of their “Ten Industry Innovators / People Changing Tomorrow’s Music Industry Today.” Now, he brings that same innovative mindset to teaching others how to master networking, start conversations with confidence and turn relationships into career-changing opportunities.

Outside of his professional accomplishments, Devin enjoys time with his family, cooking, golfing, brainstorming ideas and writing about himself in the third person.

Dr. Stacey Malaret is the Director of the LEAD Scholars Academy at the University of Central Florida, where she has dedicated her career to helping students discover their passions and grow as leaders. For 24 years, she has guided UCF students in building leadership skills, serving their communities, and making the most of their college experience. Dr. Malaret became the NSLS advisor in 2004 for UCF and is the longest serving advisor for the society.

A proud two-time Knight, Dr. Malaret earned both her M.A. in Counselor Education and her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from UCF. She is actively involved in professional organizations like NASPA, where she shares her expertise in student development and leadership education.

What truly inspires her, however, are the students she mentors every day. Whether it’s encouraging a first-year student to step into a leadership role, helping a team design a service project, or cheering on graduates as they head into their careers, Dr. Malaret is committed to making sure students know they belong and can succeed.

Outside of work, she enjoys giving back to the Orlando community, spending time with her family, including twin 17-year-olds, and connecting with fellow UCF faculty, staff and alumni. She believes leadership isn’t just about titles—it’s about making a positive impact wherever you are.